Shrapnel-shell.



W. C. INGRAM.

SHRAPNEL SHELL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7. 1917.

Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

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- 'mTED STATES PATENT OFFICE. v

WILLIAM- o. INGRAM, or GRA D nnrrns, moment SHRAPNEL-SHELL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. INGRAM,

.a citizen of the United States, residing at tion finds preferable embodiment in, the

structures hereinafter described and illustrated by the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view, partly in central longitudinal section, of a shrapnel;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same taken on a plane corresponding to line A-B of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fied construction.

The oblong shrapnel shell 1 is of the usual cylindroconoidal form, and is provided with the projecting charge 2, bursting charge 3 and time fuse 4;, as indicated in- Fig. 1..

A portion 5 of the wall 6 of the shell is more frangible than other parts of sand wall, which effect is preferably attalned by forming said portion thinner than said other parts, as shown. A. swinging weight 7 is pivotally mounted on the shell at 8 and is adapted to lie in a suitable recess 9 in the outer surface of the shell when the shell is in the gun. When the gun is discharged, this weight swings outwardly from the shell, and as the shells rifled rotary movement ceases, the weight turns the shell and maintains the frangible portion of the wall downwardly, the weight being so mounted on the shell relatively to sand portion as to accomplish this end. The swinging of the weight and its attachment to t e shell for this purpose may, of course, be accom- Specification of Letters Patent.

like view, but showing a modicharge when the weight has turned the frangible portion downward, so that the missiles will be directed downwardly on the target instead of scattering in all directions, the stronger parts of the shells wall efiectin this result when the frangible porv tion is urst open.

I claim: 1. A shrapnel shell containing a bursting charge and missiles and having a portion of its wall more frangible than other parts thereof, and a weight attached to the shell and adapted to swing outwardly therefrom to turn said portion downward in the shells trajectory.

2. An oblong shrapnel shell adapted to be projected in the direction of its length and containing a bursting charge. and missiles and having a portion of its wall more frangible than other parts thereof, and a weight pivotally mounted. on the shell on an axis extending in the direction of its length and adapted to swing outwardly from the shell to turn said portion, downward in the shells trajectory.

3. An oblong-shrapnel shell containing a bursting charge and missiles and having a portion of its wall more frangible than other parts thereof, and having a recess in the outer surface of its wall, and a swinging weight attached to the shell and adapted to lie in said recess and to swing outwardly therefrom to turn said portion downward in the shells trajectory.

WILLIAM 'o. INGRAM.

v Patented $ept. 18, 1917.

Application filed March 7, 1917. Serial No. 152,993. 

